Sunday, September 12, 2010
Classical to Jazz - Jazz to Classical / Azar Lawrence at Chicago Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center September 27 and Carnegie Hall October 4 with The High Arts Society of Warsaw Poland / Frederic Chopin's 200th Birthday - "A Polish Jazz Celebration"
Saturday, August 14, 2010
CHASIN THE TRANE - MANY MILES TO GO / AZAR LAWRENCE / MYSTIC JOURNEY
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Gathering - Azar Lawrence featuring Benito Gonzalez @ Alvas Showroom Sat. 3.6.10
A Gathering
On Saturday, March 6th 2010, Sax Legend Azar will Lawrence will be performing from his upcoming release Mystic Journey and has put together an outstanding lineup to perform with fellow band member, Benito Gonzalez.
Azar Lawrence, tenor & soprano sax
Benito Gonzalez, piano (2005 winner Great American Piano Competition)
Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet
Tony Dumas, bass
Lorca Hart, drums
Alvas Showroom
1417 W. 8th St.
San Pedro, Ca
Suggested donation: $20
Reservations: 800.403.3447
A killer line up and an excellent fit. All of the musicians from the Americas, South and North will be performing the music that has grown from centuries of gatherings that has culminated in the indigenous American art form.
Azar Lawrence and Tony Dumas both native Angelenos have solid musical credentials. Tony having performed with Herbie Hancock, Carmen McCrae, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, The Manhattan Transfer, to name a few.
Grammy nominated jazz Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos whose Jazz roots began in his birthplace Guadlajara Mexico has performed and recorded with many of today's great jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Hayden, Les Mccann and Poncho Sanchez and many others. Last but not least, Benito Gonzalez, Venezuela, 2005 winner Great American Piano Competition in from New York and young jazz drummer Lorca Hart whose musical roots were planted by his family, notably his father being Billy Hart round out an excellent line-up that promises to have Alvas Showroom in San Pedro, on fire and swinging!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
For Immediate Release / Press Release -January 8, 2010 / Azar Lawrence / Mystic Journey
January 21, 2010
Press Release
Contact Information
Linda G.
E-Mail: zarmedia@gmail.com, admin@azarlawrence.com
For Immediate Release - Zarman Productions / Press Release / New York, NY - Los Angeles, Ca. January 21, 2010 / Azar Lawrence / Mystic Journey / Azar Lawrence Sextet
On the heels of his last release Prayer For My Ancestors, Azar Lawrence's new CD Mystic Journey on Furthermore Recordings is another solid production by the saxist and will be amongst 2010's great contributions to Jazz. On the recording Azar was joined by Eddie Henderson, Gerald Hayes, Benito Gonzalez, Essiet Okon Essiet, and the late great drummer Rashied Ali. Mystic Journey is scheduled to be released Spring 2010.
For Azar Lawrence playing music is a continuum of his goal to reach a higher plane on a level that traces prodigiousness ground graced by the footprints of Parker, Gillespie, Miles, Coltrane, et.al. Music has a connatural ability causing a togetherness that trapezes artificial barriers.and back in the spotlight Azar's music is reaching people throughout the country and internationally whether live or through broadcast media.
Michael Nastos, AllMusicGuide, December 2009, said in his review of Prayer For My Ancestors, "Lawrence is able to fly into the sun without ever scorching his wings. He never discards the solid musical values in his sinewy hands since halcyon days as a sideman with McCoy Tyner, or his challenging, against the grain of trendy funk/fusion-era early-'70s recordings for Prestige Records. The difference between Lawrence and all the Coltrane wannabes is that he lived and breathed the music of the turbulent '60s, playing it with 'Trane's contemporaries and peers."
For those who have had a sneak preview of Mystic Journey, all agree the fiery saxophonist only gets better. Back on call he can and should be heard live whether with his quartet, quintet or sextet.
Azar Lawrence performs:
Azar Lawrence Quartet featuring Benito Gonzalez, piano, Ronnie Burrage; drums, Essiet Essiet, bass and Azar, tenor and soprano saxes - Monday, February 8, 2010 - Blues Alley, 1069 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 202.337.4141 Show Times: 8p & 10p, $20 www.azarlawrence.com www.bluesalley.com.
Azar Lawrence presents Prayer For My Ancestors, featuring Amadou Fall and Ibrahim Ba - Friday, February 12, 2010 - WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park 2100 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 619.230.1190, Time: 8p Tickets: $15 www.azarlawrence.com www.worldbeatcenter.org
Azar Lawrence Quartet featuring Benito Gonzalez - Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro, Ca Time: 8p & 10p, Suggested Donation $20, Ph. 310.519.1314 www.azarlawrence.com www.benitogonzalez.com www.alvasshowroom.com
Azar Lawrence Quartet featuring Benito Gonzalez - Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at Yoshi's Oakland, 510 Embarcadero W. Oakland, CA Time: 8p, Tickets $16.00, Ph. 510.238.9200, www.azarlawrence.com www.benitogonzalez.com www.yoshis.com
Azar Lawrence Quartet featuring Benito Gonzalez-Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at Jimmy Maks, 221 NW 10th Ave. Portland, OR
Show times: 8p & 10p Tickets $20 503.295.6542 www.azarlawrence.com www.benitogonzalez.com www.jimmymaks.com
Azar Lawrence Quartet featuring Benito Gonzalez - Fri. & Sat. March 12 & 13, 2010 at DalyJazz, Missoula Montana Show Times: 8p & 10p, Musician donation $20, Tickets by reservation only - dalyjazz@gmail.com, http://www.myspace.com/dalyjazz, www.azarlawerence.com
Azar Lawrence as part of the Brian Jackson, Lenny White project - Saturday, May 1, "It's Max Roach Time" - Kumble Theatre, Long Island University, Long Island, NY
Azar Lawrence Sextet presents Mystic Journey-Friday, May 7, 2010 - Tribute to Lost Treasures, "Ali's Alley" Tribeca Performance Arts Center, New York, NY
Azar Lawrence Quartet - Friday & Saturday, August 12 &13, Smalls Jazz Club, New York, NY
Monday, October 26, 2009
For Immediate Release, New York, Ny/Los Angeles, Ca - October 25, 2009 /Azar Lawrence - New York State of Mind
For Immediate Release, New York, Ny/Los Angeles, Ca - October 25, 2009 /Azar Lawrence - New York State of Mind
Jazz Progenitor, Titan, and Giant ...... are words often used to describe Saxophonist Azar Lawrence. Azar has released three titles over the past few years and has a new production in the can, Mystic Dreams, featuring the Great Rashied Ali due out 2010. He has been playing throughout the country and divides his permanent residency between Los Angeles and New York.
As a teen Elvin Jones asked Azar to join him in New York where he would become a member of Elvin's group, Jazz Machine. After a few years with Elvin he was asked to join McCoy Tyner's band where he is prominent on several of Tyner's productions.
As he embarks on a continuous sojourn into jazz he has returned to his New York jazz roots to begin his Prayer For My Ancestor tour November 2009 at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York.
Azar Lawrence is in residence!
Azar will premiere Prayer For My Ancestors live with his septet After Hours Tue-Sat, Nov 10-14, Azar Lawrence with Lorca Hart, Gerald Hayes, Benito Gonzalez, Essiet Essiet, Billy Hart (Nov 12-14 only) & Eddie Henderson (Nov 13-14 only) 12:45 am, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Frederick P. Rose Hall-33 West 60th Street, Fl. 11, New York, NY. Tickets $10-$20 212 258.9595
Other News . . .
"Azar Lawrence" - Prayer For My Ancestors, Azar’s recent recording, ranked No. 46 this week at JazzWeek. It can be purchased at Furthermore Recordings - Prayer Tour Information
"Recent News", Azar's upcoming album, Mystic Dreams features his septet with our dearly departed Brother in music; Rashied Ali (d); Azar Lawrence, (t, s sax); Eddie Henderson, (t); Benito Gonzalez, (p); Essiet Essiet, (b); and Gerald Hayes, (a, sax) and will be released mid 2010.
The quartet will be touring throughout 2010. Billy Hart originally scheduled to perform on Mystic Dreams will be holding down the beat on drums. Azar led this production in a recording that took place in New York, April 2009, he along with his fellow band members are honored to have swung with Jazz’s premiere drummer, who went home to be with the Ancestors August 2010. Heaven is Swinging!
Azar performs in a Tribute to John Gary featuring Azar Lawrence & Willie Williams, Tenor Saxophone; Onaje Allan Gumbs, p; Paul Beaudry, b; Alvester Garnett, d, @ The Bassline Cafe 130 E. 1st St. Mt. Vernon, NY, Sun, Nov 22, 3-6pm, $20 advance/$25 door Bass Line 917.882.9539
Upcoming - Azar will be teaching a Jazz Masters class and will lead his quartet in a performance at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina.
In 2010 Azar will performs with his septet featuring Billy Hart, (d), Eddie Henderson, (t); Benito Gonzalez, p; Essiet Essiet (b); and Gerald Hayes, (a, sax), May 2010, led by Azar in a "Tribute To Lost Treasures" - Ali’s Alley at the Tribeca Performing Art’s Center, New York, NY.
Azar performs May 2010 at the Kumble Theatre, Long Island University, Long Island, NY It's Time "Max Roach" Tribute
Source: Zarmedia@gmail.com
Los Angeles, Ca
818.602.7831